Canterbury Cathedral, founded in 597, is the cathedral of the archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and symbolic leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion.  The cathedral is also a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As such Canterbury City Council has an important responsibility to ensure the cathedral is not adversely affected by development plans. Furthermore, this is extended to protect important views of the cathedral in the Canterbury area.

" The Canterbury District Local Plan includes policies to ensure that the setting of the World Heritage property is protected. The City Council adopted the Canterbury Conservation Area Appraisal. This appraisal includes the three parts of the World Heritage property and an analysis of strategic views into and within the city. The importance of preserving views of the Cathedral is recognised in the document and will be taken into account when assessing applications.  "

This full-length panoramic  view of the south-elevation of the cathedral and historic city centre is perhaps the finest surviving rural view of Canterbury and its World Heritage Site, framed by orchards and fields. Its extensive views have been enjoyed from Stuppington Hill and surrounding countryside by countless generations of local people, who use its network of easily accessible footpaths, as well as by medieval and modern pilgrims and travellers.

THESE VIEWS ARE NOW UNDER THREAT with the local plan.

In 1979 a Canterbury Conservation Study identified 22 specific "cones of vision" or designated viewing points providing panoramic, unobstructed views of Canterbury Cathedral. The intention was to to ensure that new developments did not obstruct iconic views of the cathedral. 

Many of these views have now been lost, making the much valued view from Wincheap fields/Stuppington Hill even more sacred.

The local plan disregards the unique view of the cathedral from wincheap orchards and fields.  Some provision has been made for 'viewing corridors' but these are insufficient.  These viewing corridors would be akin to looking at the cathedral through arrow slits on a castle's battlements. The beauty of the full panoramic view would be entirely lost.